Hanging trolley system with brake

Abstract

A hanging trolley system includes a body, a plurality of first support wheels, and a brake system. The body includes upper and lower portions. The first support wheels are coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about corresponding first axes that are parallel to each other. The first support wheels are configured to roll on an upward facing first surface of a rail to support the body on the rail. The brake system includes a traction wheel, a first component, and a second component. The traction wheel is coupled to the lower portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about a second axis and is configured to roll along a second surface of the rail. The first component is coupled to the traction wheel for rotation therewith. The second component is configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the first component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hanging trolley system comprising:
 a body including an upper portion and a lower portion;   a plurality of first support wheels coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about corresponding first axes that are parallel to each other, the first support wheels being configured to roll on an upward facing first surface of a rail to support the body on the rail; and   a brake system including a traction wheel, a first component, and a second component, wherein the traction wheel is coupled to the lower portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about a second axis and is configured to roll along a second surface of the rail, wherein the first component is coupled to the traction wheel for rotation therewith, wherein the second component is configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the first component.   
     
     
         2 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is parallel to the first axes. 
     
     
         3 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 2 , wherein the second surface is a downward facing surface such that the traction wheel is configured to be below the first support wheels when the first support wheels support the body on the rail. 
     
     
         4 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is transverse to the first axes. 
     
     
         5 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motor drivingly coupled to the traction wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tensioner supported by the body and configured to bias the traction wheel toward the second surface. 
     
     
         7 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 6 , wherein the tensioner includes a biaser and an arm, wherein the arm pivotably couples the traction wheel to the lower portion of the body, wherein the biaser biases the arm in a predetermined pivot direction, wherein the biaser is at least one of a spring, a gas shock, a resilient material, and an air cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second support wheels coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto, each second support wheel being rotatable about a corresponding one of the first axes, the second support wheels being configured to roll on an upward facing third surface of the rail to support the body on the rail. 
     
     
         9 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hand lever and a Bowden cable, wherein one end of the Bowden cable is coupled to the second component and an opposite end of the Bowden cable is coupled to the hand lever, the hand lever being configured to actuate the second component via the Bowden cable. 
     
     
         10 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hand lever and a cable, wherein one end of the cable is coupled to the second component and an opposite end of the cable is coupled to the hand lever, the hand lever being configured to actuate the second component via the cable, wherein the cable is a hydraulic or pneumatic cable. 
     
     
         11 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller and an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to activate the second component to engage the first component, the controller being configured to send a signal to the actuator to activate the second component to engage the first component. 
     
     
         12 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first component is directly coupled to the traction wheel for common rotation about the second axis therewith. 
     
     
         13 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first component is directly coupled to a transmission member that is drivingly coupled to the traction wheel for rotation therewith. 
     
     
         14 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first component is a brake rotor and the second component is a caliper. 
     
     
         15 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 1 , further comprising the rail. 
     
     
         16 . A hanging trolley system comprising:
 a body including an upper portion and a lower portion;   a plurality of first support wheels coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about corresponding first axes that are parallel to each other, the first support wheels being configured to roll on an upward facing first surface of a rail to support the body on the rail;   a traction wheel coupled to the lower portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about a second axis, the traction wheel configured to roll along a second surface of the rail;   a brake rotor coupled to the traction wheel for rotation therewith;   a caliper configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the brake rotor; and   a hand lever and a cable, wherein one end of the cable is coupled to the caliper and an opposite end of the cable is coupled to the hand lever, the hand lever being configured to actuate the caliper via the cable.   
     
     
         17 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 16 , wherein the cable is one of a hydraulic cable, a pneumatic cable, a Bowden cable, and an electrical cable. 
     
     
         18 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 16 , wherein, when the caliper is activated, the caliper resists rotation of the rotor by engaging the rotor with at least one of frictional force and magnetic force. 
     
     
         19 . The hanging trolley system according to  claim 16 , wherein the brake rotor is directly coupled to the traction wheel for common rotation about the second axis therewith. 
     
     
         20 . A hanging trolley system comprising:
 a body including an upper portion and a lower portion;   a plurality of first support wheels coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about corresponding first axes that are parallel to each other, the first support wheels being configured to roll on an upward facing first surface of a rail to support the body on the rail;   a plurality of second support wheels coupled to the upper portion of the body for rotation relative thereto, each second support wheel being rotatable about a corresponding one of the first axes, the second support wheels being configured to roll on an upward facing third surface of the rail to support the body on the rail;   a traction wheel coupled to the lower portion of the body for rotation relative thereto about a second axis, the traction wheel configured to roll along a second surface of the rail;   a tensioner supported by the body and configured to bias the traction wheel toward the second surface;   a brake rotor coupled to the traction wheel for rotation therewith;   a caliper configured to selectively inhibit rotation of the brake rotor; and   a hand lever and a cable, wherein one end of the cable is coupled to the caliper and an opposite end of the cable is coupled to the hand lever, the hand lever being configured to actuate the caliper via the cable, wherein the cable is one of a hydraulic cable, a pneumatic cable, a Bowden cable, and an electrical cable.